Wayside actuable signal system



May 21, 1946 c. w. CAMPBELL Erm. 2,400,740

- WAYSIDE ACTA'BLE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed April 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PI -121g. a

BY l

May 21, 1946 c. w. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,400,740

WAYSIDE ACTUABLE SIGNAL SYSTEM Patented May 2l, 1946 WAYSIDE ACTUABLE SIGNAL SYSTEM Chester W. Campbell, Anderson,

Blanchard G. Chamberlain,

Ohio

Ind., and Bellefontaine,

Application April 16, 1945, Serial No. 588,464

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a system for railways and the like for the warning of the approach of a train to a highway crossing by whistle and/or bell.

The actuator for such an automatic system is a track side device for picking-up a signal indication. Herein such a device is positioned in advance of the crossing a suiiicient distance to insure that the warning will be given prior to immediate crossing of the train at the crossing in question.

This system is arranged to fail on the side of safety, that is, failure of the intermediate device actuated by the pick-up signal will cause the bell and/ or whistle to be actuated.

This system also is arranged to provide a permanent record of such warning signal and the exact signal given.

Since steam or air or electrically actuated bell ringing equipment and steam or air or electrically actuated whistling equipment are each old in the locomotive signalling art, no further mention herein is believed necessary, except to state that across the manually operable steam or air valve or switch for each, there is provided a by-pass including an electrically operable valve, such as a solenoid valve wherein, when the solenoid thereof is actuated, the valve actuated thereby is opened to supply steam cr air to the warning device or there is provided a shunting switch in the circuit to warning device in question for operation thereof as long as such valve is held open by the solenoid or the switch is closed, respectively. Whenever the solenoid is not energized, the valve is closed. Thus, the automatic control does not and will not interfere with' hand control as now employed. Since solenoid valves of this character are well known, no further reference will be had thereto, but merely the switch controlling the circuit including the solenoid will be described.

The chief object of this invention, accordingly, is to provide an automatic warning system for locomotives and the like.

The chief feature of this invention resides in the simplicity of construction of the unit and means incorporated therein for effecting said automatic operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying' drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. l is a wiring diagram of th'e control system circuits.

.strained toward contacts 24 by spring 28.

ber 26 mounts keeper 26a which, when relay I5 isv Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the relay and oppositely acting switch, the maintaining and re setting switches.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the relay and oppositely acting switch.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view'of the motor and motor operable portions of the control unit.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the coordinated recording and signal controls.

In Fig. 1, I0 indicates a track side inductor. The locomotive carries an inverted U-shaped receiver I2 comprising a magnet of laminated core type similar to inductor I0, each having pole faces I2a and Illa, respectively. About one leg of receiver I2 is a primary coil I3 and upon the other leg is a secondary coil I4.

A relay coil I5 has one terminal connected by line I 5 to the source of potential I'I and branch' energized, is attracted to the left and contact 25 now bridges contacts 22.

When so positioned, relay I5 is energized and this is the normal position of th'ese parts unless a failure occurs, or a wayside signal is received. As magnet I2 passes over inductor I0, the forces generated are such that relay I5 is deenergized so member 26 is released to spring 28, whereupon contact 25 bridges contacts 24. This opens the circuit to the relay I5 so contact 25 can remain in bridging position across contacts 24.

Motor M has one terminal connected by line 29 to the source of potential Il. The other terminal is connected by line 30 to one contact 24, the other being connected by line 3| to the source of potential I'I. Therefore, when contact 25 bridges contacts 24, motor M is energized and the relay I5 circuit is open.

Upon motor energization, cam disk D rotates so that notch D' moves from beneath switch Z,

l whereupon switch Z is closed by cam D. One terminal of the switch Z is connected to line 3|. The other terminal is connected by line 32 to line 3U. Switch Z, accordingly, is in parallel with contacts 24.

Therefore, after the motor circuit is initially closed across contacts 24, said circuit is maintained closed across switch Z until switch Z opens, which is when notch D again registers with switch Z. This completes one revolution of cam D.

After the motor circuit is closed, rotation of cam D progresses until notch D registers with member D2 carried by one contact of switch Z'. Switch Z is normally `open as long as member D2 rides the high portions of cam D. However, when member D2 drops into notch D', switch Z' closes. Switch Z is in parallel with contacts 22.

Accordingly, when switch Z closes momentarily, the circuit to relay l 5 is again closed. This opens the circuit across switch contacts 24, because member 25 now moves to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1. However, while the motor circuit is opened across contacts 24, it is still closed by switch Z and will remain closed. until switch Z drops into notch D', whereupon the motor circuit is opened and cam D rotation ceases.

Closing of the relay I5 circuit across contacts 22, because switch Z has momentarily closed it, restores the relay circuit to normal condition, which is maintained until a failure occurs, or another induct-or Il) is traversed by receiver I2, whereupon the operation described is repeated.

Rotatable in timed relation with cam D, as hereinafter described are two cams A and B. Each cam has the desired contour, for example cam B has three long 'high portions and one short high portion, see Fig. 5. Adjacent each cam periphery is a pair of spring members 50--5I with contacts 53a and 5 la adjacent each other. Finger 5I mounts follower 52. When same seats in a notch between high portions on the cam, the circuit across contacts 50a and Sla is opened. Leads 53 and 54 from the fingers 50 and 5| control remotely, or are in series with a solenoid valve hereinbefore mentioned.

In Fig, l, leads 53a and 54a lead from one switch controlled by the cam A, and leads 53h and 54h lead from the switch controlled by cam B. The idle or stop position of cams A and B is such that followers 52 are seated in a cam low spot and the switch is open. When the motor is energized, the switch is closed and opened for one revolution of said cam A or B, as determined by the number and length of the high portions. Herein the arrangement is such that the whistle warning signal device is supplied with steam or air for two long periods, then a short period followed by a long period, the salient periods being of equal duration. The bell signal is continuous.

In Fig. 4 the motor M drives a worm B0 that rotates wheel 6I, which is rigid with pinion 52 on shaft 63. Gear 64 on shaft B5 meshes with the pinion. Also, on shaft 65 are cams A, B and D aforesaid.

Also, on shaft 65 is secured gear 66 meshing with gear 61 rigid with shaft 68, which mounts spool 69, same being the rewind spool for tape 1l) coming from supply spool or reel 1I carried by shaft 12. As shown, these spools are detachable or separable to remove printed tape and supply new rolls thereto when desired or required. Obviously, this tape is moved in timed relation with cam D and shaft 65.

Herein rigid with shaft B5 are a pairof printing rolls E and F. These have peripheries corresponding to thoseJ of cams A and B. A single transfer roll C below rolls E and F inks the high portions and the ink thereon is transferred to the tape 10 for record purposes. Roller C is associated with ink well directly as illustrated or indirectly through intermediate rolls as desired.

Obviously, the bell may not be rung continuously, in which event if cam A controls the bell solenoid valve, there will be more than one low place in its periphery and also in the corresponding roll E periphery.

Obviously, whenever' it is desired to operate the bell signal subsequent to the whistle signal, the bell circuit solenoid leads may energize, near the end of cam D rotation, a pick-up relay controlling a single cycle cam rotating motor, initial cam rotation thereby closing a motor maintaining circuit and also closing a bell control circuit. This circuit also maybe interposed in multiple with that specifically illustrated herein, so that bell ringing in this instance occurs with the whistling and continues after same ceases and for a predetermined period as determined by the second stage cam operation just described. In view oi the previous description, neither additional description or illustration is believed necessary.

It will be clear that automatic signalling, as described, will not only warn all approaching the railway crossing of the approaching train, but such signalling will alert and Warn the train crew of the highway crossing approach of the train. When the train is ruiming too slow to give the legal signal aforesaid, two long, one short, one long in thirteen to fifteen seconds and within the required legal distance relative to the highway crossing, the engineer can press switch button 90, thus snorting out relay I5 and initiating the cycle whereupon operation follows as described previ ously.

For backing up, a second receiver on the opposite side of the locomotive may be employed. A cut over, or transfer switch, then would be mounted adjacent to and automatically operated by the reversing gear to cut out the previous receiver and cut in the reverse receiver. Operation in that event will be as before described.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an alarm system having alarm means. wayside signal means, and vehicle carried receiver means operatively associated with the signal means, the combination of an electric motor, cam means rotatable thereby, motor circuit maintaining normally open switch means cam operable to closed circuit position, motor circuit initiating normally open switch means, means for closing said last mentioned switch means upon operative association of the wayside signal means and receiver means, electrically operable means normally maintaining said closing means in motor circuit open circuit position, normally closed switch means in series with said electrically operable means and controlling same and conditioned for open circuit upon the aforesaid signal means and receiver means association, normally open, cam operable switch means in parallel with said series switch means for momentarily reenergizing the electrical operable means, camloperation thereof occurring subsequent to cam operation of the motor maintaining switchmeans. the closing means being common to the motor initiating switch means and` the said series switch means and responsive to electrically operable means energization, means normallyconstraining the closing means to close the motor initiating switch means when the electrically operable means is effectively deenergized, and means operable in timed relation with said cam means and motor operable for controlling the alarm means,

2. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein a normally open manually operable switch is in multiple across the electrically operable means for manually short circuiting same to initiate motor operation when desired.

3. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein the electrically operable means is of relay type and the motor circuit initiating switch means and the series switch means each comprises a pair f spaced contacts and the closing means comprises a contact bridging member alternately bridging each pair of spaced contacts.

4. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of independent alarm means, and a plurality of independent last mentioned means, one for each alarm means.

5. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a rotatable cam and a normally open switch means controlling the alarm means, the cam having a plurality of switch closing portions, cam rotation repetitiously closing the last mentioned switch means.

6. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a rotatable cam and a normally open switch means controlling the alarm means, the cam yhaving a plurality of switch closing portions, cam rotation repetitiously closing the last mentioned switch means, the switch closing portions having the desired arcuate length whereby one revolution of the second mentioned cam produces the desired warning from the alarm means per rst mentioned cam revolution.

7. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein there is provided a motor operable tape feeding device, an alarm indication printing means for tape printing and operable in timed relation with the alarm means.

8. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein there is provided a motor operable tape feeding device, an alarm indication printing means for tape printing and operable in timed relation with the alarm means, and comprising a printing wheel in tape contact and rotatable in timed relation with said cam.

9. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of independent alarm means, a plurality of independent last mentioned means, one for each alarm means, a motor operable tape feeding device, a plurality of alarm indicating Printing means for singular tape printing, one for each independent alarm means and corresponding to the independent means therefor, and operable in timed relation therewith.

10. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a rotatable cam and a normally open switch means controlling the alarm means, the cam having a plurality of switch closing portions, cam rotation repetitiously closing the last mentioned switch means, a motor operable tape feeding device, and alarm indicating printing means for tape printing and operable in timed relation with the alarm means.

11. A system as defined by claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a rotatable cam and a normally open switch means controlling the alarm means, the cam having a plurality of switch closing portions, cam rotation repetitiously closing the last mentioned switch means, the cam switch closing portions having the desired arcuate length whereby one revolution of the second mentioned cam produces the desired warning from the alarm means per first mentioned cam revolution, a motor operable tape feeding device, and alarm indicating printing means for tape printing and operable in timed relation with the alarm means, and comprising a printing wheel in tape contact and rotatable in timed relation with said first mentioned cam.

CHESTER W. CAMPBELL. BLANCHARD G. CHAMBERLAIN. 

